The parts of a home that shine are the fine finishes that require special time and attention. Homeowner Brooke shares, “I saved a lot on ordering stuff like door handles, cabinet handles, sink fixtures, lights, etc., all on Amazon.” When you’re doing a custom home, there’s no reason it shouldn’t reflect everything you love, so selecting your own faucets, cabinet hardware, door handles, and light fixtures will paint a perfect picture of what you love. It is a cost-effective solution, and the builders don’t always have the most budget-efficient partners.
Budget-Savvy Strategies for Designing Your Dream Home from Scratch
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Published: June 11, 2024
Updated: March 28, 2024
Customizing a new build is a dream come true for many homeowners. From choosing the exterior design to hand-picking the floorplan down to the sparkly finishes, it’s a process that requires extensive time and attention to detail. There’s energy efficiency and durability to consider, as well as flooring, ceiling height, tile design, and appliances. Without the proper guide, it can be overwhelming when considering where to allocate your money.
We asked our pool of readers and interior designers the tips they followed when evaluating the budget of their new builds, and the feedback was beyond encouraging. A few tasteful recommendations include buying hardware in bulk on Amazon and DIY’ing your trim, but truthfully, the opportunities for saving money are endless. By doing extensive research, asking the proper questions, and choosing your own vendors, there are many avenues for creating a home that is perfectly suited to not only your taste but also your pocketbook. Read on for all our best insider tips to creating the home of your dreams!
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Kitchens and bathrooms are the most expensive part of a home build or renovation. Reader Kirby recommends, “Splurge on what will last and be noticed like kitchen cabinets, countertops, showers, and fireplaces. Save on things you won’t notice, like 9′ ceilings vs 10′ and interior doors.” Unless you have tall family members or want your home to feel more open and spacious, the value of your home will benefit from modern kitchens and bathrooms.
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Flooring is a significant expense in the home building process, but luckily, there are so many cost-effective options that can mimic the overall effect of natural hardwoods. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is durable, unique, and customizable in grain and color. In particular, finding your own vendor that can offer a competitive price per square foot may save you additional money in comparison with the vendor that the builder provides.
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Depending on where you live, the texturing of walls could be a signature component. In Jill’s experience, “The texture on the drywall that is smooth is very expensive.” In the Southwestern United States, plaster below paint is quite standard, but it’s unnecessary and can be avoided if you’re trying to save money.
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Interior designer Katie Perry offers invaluable advice regarding the importance of saving on the little details. “As boring as it sounds, it is important that the bones of the house are structurally sound and that the electrics, plumbing, insulation, etc, are all working well, as this will save you money in the long run. A way to save is to be mindful of the finishes you choose, and kitchens and bathrooms typically tend to be the most expensive rooms in the house when it comes to the finishes. For bathrooms and kitchen backsplashes, there are lots of cost-effective tile choices that will still look modern and elegant. There is no need for custom cabinetry when designing a kitchen if you are on a budget, and you can always elevate the look by being mindful of the hardware you select. When it comes to furnishing the house, sourcing second-hand is such a brilliant way to go… one man’s trash is another’s treasure!”
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It’s often an undiscussed detail, but energy efficiency is not something you want to skimp on, since it can save you money in the long run. Reader Lisa shares, “My husband built our house 20 years ago, and no expense was spared to make it as energy-efficient as possible. We’re in the Midwest, and when we got hit with the polar vortex of -55 degrees with windchill, our heating bill was only $50, while our neighbor’s was almost $400.” If you’re heating your home for six months out of the year, that is over $40,000 in savings over 20 years!
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It can be so easy to get ahead of ourselves in the home-buying process, especially when our Pinterest boards are the center of design inspiration. Interior designer Meredith Taylor recommends saving the decorative details for later, stating, “When building a house with a tight budget, I’d focus on completing the big things first and save the smaller decisions for later. Things that are harder to change long term, like kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring, should be higher priority for selecting materials you will really like. Things like light fixtures, wall treatments, and decorative accents can always be completed at a later date!”
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Trim is a customizable piece of your home that hones in on the overall effect of specific aesthetics. Whether you love Victorian or Mediterranean influences or maybe cherish a farmhouse theme, trim is the detail that sets the stage for your remaining decor. Homeowner Michelle explains, “We saved by doing the trim ourselves (my husband learned it by watching videos, and he did an amazing job).” You can learn just about any skill on YouTube, and this can save you thousands of dollars.
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Building a house is like committing to a high-quality pair of shoes. The cost-effective ones can get the job done, but they’ll be more susceptible to quicker wear and tear. Interior designer Neha Kaimal stresses the importance of splurging on high-traffic areas. She explains, “When faced with budget constraints while building a new house, it’s prudent to prioritize spending on high-activity spaces over less frequently used areas. Key rooms such as the mudroom, living room, kitchen, and master bedroom, which see the most daily use, should receive careful design and budget allocations. In contrast, spaces like guest bedrooms, basements, and outdoor lounging areas can be designed and budgeted for at a later stage, as time and financial resources permit. Making these distinctions based on the frequency and nature of space utilization is crucial. It ensures that the areas most integral to daily activities are well-designed and adequately funded, while secondary spaces can be addressed as the budget allows, without compromising the functionality of the essential living areas.”